T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
1045
Who would meet the need? Who would respond to the call? John the Baptist. He was the man for such a time as this. (2) THE MESSAGE, vs. 7-9. “ Gener ation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” John is speaking to the multitudes. He is a street preacher. The crowds need the message. In Matthew we And him giving the message to the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt. 3:4-10) and they were probably present at this time also. John would not trim his message as some preachers and teachers do today. “ Sauce for the goose was sauce for the gander.” There is but one message for men, “ All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” There is no difference. It takes the burning stubble to set the vipers running. Now we call them “ butterflies” instead of vipers. Jesus added a “ woe” to His message to the Pharisees (Matt. 23:15). The preach er’s business is found in 2 Tim. 4:2: ^Preach the word; he instant in season, ont of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with ail long-suffering and doctrine.” There are vipers in the pulpits today. A gown is no sign of goodness nor greatness. A robe has covered many a rogue. Soft words are no sign of sin cerity of heart. Verses of poetry may issue from a viper’s heart. Many a man has used a divinity degree as a trap to destroy the souls of men. The dignitaries in John’s audience did not disturb or divert him. The hot shot was intended to warn them of the fires of hell. One word burns with white heat as it falls from the lips of a forerunner;— one word claims our close attention— the word “ repent” . Seven times in the New Testament the word is used when it means “ to be concerned with” and fifty five times it is used as here to signify a change of mind.
The message of John was like the message of Jesus (Mark 1:15), “ Repent ye and believe the Gospel.” And like the message of the twelve (Mark 6:12), “ And they went and preached that men should repent.” It was the same in the opening message of Peter (Acts 2:38), “ Repent, and be baptized, every one of you.” Likewise Paul," “ That men should repent and turn to God” (Acts 26:20). Inasmuch as men are everywhere and always the same the message must everywhere and always be, “ Change your mind about God; change your attitude toward God.” Men have wrong opinions concerning God. The devil led Eve to believe that God was jealously withholding from her. the hidden wisdom which would give her equality with God. Eve believed the devil’s lie and from that day to this men have harbored wrong thoughts con cerning God. Cain fell heir to his moth er’s nature and concluded that he knew better than God what kind of sacrifice should be offered. God’s rejection of his offering brought out what was in Cain’s heart. Wrong thinking leads to wrong liv ing. Because men have wrong thoughts concerning God they reject His Word, they rebel against His laws, they doubt His goodness, they believe the devil’s lie concerning Him, they harden their hearts and go farther and farther into sin. Some men believe God to be a verita ble monster. Others think He is like men,—weak, vacillating and too good to be just. Some men profess to believe that there was no need for a Saviour; that Christ was simply a good man, a great teacher. These must all repent in their mind and change their attitude toward God or they will all likewise perish. A right attitude toward God is the gate to heaven. “ Except ye repent and become
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker